The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-03-17
Corn on the Farm.

What wonderful plant is our common
corn or maize. It adapts itself to every
variety of climate from Honduras to
Maine and Canada. Towards the tropics
it attains great size Of stalk and foliage,
but the yield Of grain is not relatively
80 great as that Of the dwarf varieties
of New England and Canada, and this
inverse ratio of stalk to grain holds good
in all localities. Where climate natu-
rally tends to make large stalks of corD,
a diminutiye stalk is not necessarily an
indication Of large ear, for it may be a
weakly stalk, a "runt," to borrow an ex-
preston applied to animals. Where the
stalk, however, is vigorous, but small, the
ear will be found disproportionately,
large. This hint should not be disregard.
ed. Seed corn should be selected from
rather small stalks with large ears-and
mannring, planting and cultivation
should all be directed to the production
of large cared, small.stalked varieties.
Early planting contributes to this. The
young plant is retarded in its growth
by cool weather, but its vigor is unim.
paired. It's energy is expended in de.
veloping roots instead of stalk. It may
even be cut down by frost, butit springs
up again, apparently with equal, if not
greater yigor; shown not in size Of stalk
but that Of ear. On all soils dry enough,
plant corn therefore as early as possible.
Plant in5water furrow. There are objec.
tions to it, but the advantages outweigh
them. The young corn is liable to be
drowned by water; and if rows are on q
level, to be washed away by heavy rains
On the other hand it decreases the cost
Of cultivation greatly. When the young
corn is below the general surface, it is go
easy to cover up the young grass that
comes up around it. Side the corn with
q sweep running very fiat, and the
amount of dirt thrown in the furrow can
be gauged so as to kill the grass, but not
cover the cora or dirt it too heavily. The
mistake is often made of "dirting" corn
too heavily when young. The crop is
threatened by grass and the dirt is Tapped
and piled up around the corn to kill the
grass. This forces the corn tothroW out
a new set of roots near the surface pre-.
matnrely. But when planted in water
furrow the dirt can be thrown around it
gradually and successfully, without GOV.
,ering its roots too deeply. Deep running
turning plows are not required to cover
up grass, consequently roots are not cut,
and the crop is not laid by on great high
beds. Danger from drought is warded
off, and the liability of the soil being
washed away by rains decreased. Early
planted corn should always be covered
very shallow; one inch of dirt upon the
grain is ample. Planted deep the sums
heat cannot reach it; moreover, addi.
tional dirt is liable to be washed down
upon the young corn when planted in
water furrow. Shallow covering is there
fore doubly important.
A common practice is to put manure
on each side of grain when it is planted.
This makes the young corn grow off
rapidly and gives it fine appearance,
but it also gives it a large stalk, with a
strong impulse in the same direction
during subsequent growth. This is OBJ
jectionable. Unless the land is very
poor it is better to apply no manure at
first, let the corn start off at more mod
crate gait and project its stalk upon q
more modest scale. Afterwards whe''
the size of the stalk has been fixed Civ
it manure wherewith to make ear. Give
first working early, 80 as to smother
promptly the first crop of grass. At
second working, apply manure on each
side of this and il will be covered up by
the dirt which falls in the furrow. The
water furrow plan works finely in every
direction, if properly carried out. But
if corn planted in it is covered deep, and
the furrow is filled up too quickly after
wards, it will prove a failure. Difference
in the mode of executing it, explains
why with some it has succeeded admi.
rahly, with others it has failed utterly
W. L. j., IN Nesos and Courier.
Bishops Great Feat.
NEW YORK. March 6.-IrYing Bishop,